Measuring conditions within a wireless sensor system

Abstract

A low cost, robust, wireless sensor that provides an extended period of operability without maintenance is described. The wireless sensors are configured to communicate with a base unit or repeater. When the sensor unit detects an anomalous ambient condition (e.g., smoke, fire, water, etc.) the sensor communicates with the base unit and provides data regarding the anomalous condition. The sensor unit receives instructions to change operating parameters and/or control external devices.

1. A method of controlling a wireless sensor system, comprising:
 sending a command from a base unit to program a threshold value to be used by one or more wireless sensor units, said one or more wireless sensor units configured to collect quantitative measured data; 
 receiving said command to program a threshold value by said base unit by said one or more wireless sensor units; 
 sending commands addressed to a plurality of wireless sensor units instructing each wireless sensor unit to transmit said quantitative measured data and other status information to said base unit, the decision to send said command based, at least in part, on a comparison of said quantitative measured data to said threshold value; 
 receiving in said base unit said quantitative measured data and other status information; 
 determining anomalous conditions by said base unit, based at least in part, on evaluating said quantitative measured data said plurality of wireless sensor units wherein measured data from a first wireless sensor unit is compared with data from a second wireless sensor unit; and 
 reporting anomalous conditions by said base unit. 
 
     
     
       2. A method of quantitatively measuring conditions in a wireless sensor system, comprising:
 programming a threshold value into each of one or more wireless sensor units by a base unit, said one or more wireless sensor units configured to measure an ambient condition and collect quantitative measured sensor data, and comparing said quantitative measured sensor data to said threshold value by said one or more wireless sensor units; 
 establishing a baseline value based on said quantitative measured sensor data from a plurality of said one or more wireless sensor units and comparing said quantitative measured sensor data to said baseline value; 
 transmitting said quantitative measured sensor data to said base unit, the decision to transmit said quantitative measured sensor data to said base unit based at least in part on a comparison of said quantitative measured sensor data to said threshold value, or in comparison of said quantitative measured sensor data to said baseline value; and 
 transmitting said quantitative measured sensor data and other status information to said base unit by said one or more wireless sensor units when instructed to do so by said base unit. 
 
     
     
       3. A method of quantitatively measuring conditions by a wireless sensor unit, comprising:
 computing a threshold value for a plurality of sensor units; 
 programming a threshold value in said wireless sensor unit, said wireless sensor unit configured to measure an ambient condition and collect quantitative measured sensor data; 
 comparing said quantitative measured sensor data to said threshold value by said wireless sensor unit; 
 transmitting said quantitative measured sensor data, the decision to transmit said quantitative measured sensor data based, at least in part, on a comparison of said quantitative measured sensor data to said threshold value; and 
 transmitting said quantitative measured sensor data to said base unit by said wireless sensor unit when instructed to do so. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more wireless sensor units is configured to measure an ambient condition. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of establishing a baseline value based on said quantitative measured sensor data from a plurality of said one or more wireless sensor units and comparing said quantitative measured sensor data to said baseline value, wherein said threshold value is computed based on said baseline value. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 2 , wherein said baseline value is established at least in part as an average of said quantitative measured sensor data from a plurality of said one or more wireless sensor units. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 2 , wherein said baseline value is established at least in part as a time average of said quantitative measured sensor data from a plurality of said one or more wireless sensor units. 
     
     
       8. A method, comprising:
 programming a threshold value into one or more sensor units by a base unit, said one or more sensor units configured to measure an ambient condition and collect quantitative measured sensor data, and comparing said quantitative measured sensor data to said threshold value by said one or more sensor units; 
 establishing a baseline value based on said quantitative measured sensor data from a plurality of said one or more sensor units and comparing said quantitative measured sensor data to said baseline value; 
 transmitting said quantitative measured sensor data to said base unit, wherein said quantitative measured sensor data is transmitted to said base unit based on a comparison of said quantitative measured sensor data to said threshold value, or on a comparison of said quantitative measured sensor data to said baseline value; and 
 transmitting said quantitative measured sensor data and other status information to said base unit by said one or more sensor units when instructed to do so by said base unit. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein said baseline value is established at least in part as an average of said quantitative measured sensor data. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein said baseline value is established at least in part as a time average of said quantitative measured sensor data. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein said baseline value is established to be the lesser of a maximum of said quantitative measured sensor data, and an average of a number of said quantitative measured sensor data. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein said quantitative measured sensor data is humidity data. 
     
     
       13. A method comprising:
 computing a threshold value for a sensor unit; 
 programming a threshold value in said sensor unit, said sensor unit configured to measure an ambient condition and collect quantitative measured sensor data; 
 comparing said quantitative measured sensor data to said threshold value by said sensor unit; 
 transmitting said quantitative measured sensor data from said sensor unit, the decision to transmit said quantitative measured sensor data based, at least in part, on a comparison of said quantitative measured sensor data to said threshold value. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of establishing a baseline value based on said quantitative measured sensor data from said sensor unit and comparing said quantitative measured sensor data to said baseline value, wherein said threshold value is computed based on said baseline value. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein said baseline value is established at least in part as an average of said quantitative measured sensor data. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein said baseline value is established at least in part as a time average of said quantitative measured sensor data. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein said baseline value is established to be the lesser of a maximum of said quantitative measured sensor data, and an average of a number of said quantitative measured sensor data. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , wherein said quantitative measured sensor data is humidity data. 
     
     
       19. A method comprising:
 computing a threshold value for a sensor unit; 
 programming a threshold value in said sensor unit, said sensor unit configured to measure an ambient condition and collect quantitative measured sensor data; 
 comparing said quantitative measured sensor data to said threshold value by said sensor unit; 
 transmitting said quantitative measured sensor data to said base unit, the decision to transmit said quantitative measured sensor data based, at least in part, on a comparison of said quantitative measured sensor data to said threshold value; and 
 transmitting said quantitative measured sensor data to said base unit by said sensor unit when instructed to do so by said base unit. 
 
     
     
       20. A method of controlling a sensor system, comprising:
 sending a command from a base unit to program a threshold value to be used by one or more sensor units, said one or more sensor units configured to collect quantitative measured data; 
 receiving said command to program a threshold value by said base unit by said one or more sensor units; 
 sending commands addressed to a plurality of sensor units instructing each sensor unit to transmit said quantitative measured data and other status information to said base unit, the decision to send said command based, at least in part, on a comparison of said quantitative measured data to said threshold value; 
 receiving in said base unit said quantitative measured data; 
 determining anomalous conditions by said base unit, based at least in part, on evaluating said quantitative measured data said plurality of sensor units wherein measured data from a first sensor unit is compared with data from a second sensor unit; and 
 reporting anomalous conditions by said base unit.